‘Recon-Figure’ FARROC Competition Entry in Far Rockaway, NY The Open Workshop

Article source: The Open Workshop

Arvene East is unique site in that it is one of the few locations in Far Rockaway that has a visual connection from the elevated rail to the ocean. In examining the fabric north and south of the rail, obstructions along the length of the shore separate the communities from the ocean.

Image Courtesy © The Open Workshop, View from South

• Architects: The Open Workshop
• Project: ‘Recon-Figure’ FARROC Competition Entry
• Location: Far Rockaway, NY, U.S.A
• Project Team: Neeraj Bhatia, Carly Dean, Alicia Hergenroeder, Jonathan Negron, De Peter Yi
• Project: FARROC Competition
• Year: 2013

Image Courtesy © The Open Workshop, View of proposal from North-west

The protective sand dunes, an elevated boardwalk, dense housing blocks, and the elevated train itself effectively obstruct access to the water, which is one the enduring assets of the site. The ramifications of Hurricane Sandy have the potential to further disconnect the site from the water through mechanisms of flood mitigation. Instead of perceiving water as something to defend against, how can it be repositioned as a performative feature that connects across the obstructions currently on the site?

Image Courtesy © The Open Workshop, Perspective of raised housing street

Figure

Taking the logic of the stabilizing rock jetties, this proposal utilizes a series of nested figures to augment the existing coastline. The figures engage the water, functioning as groynes and breakwaters that also offer recreational spaces, stabilize the coast, and concentrate wave action and associated energy capture. This technique opportunistically involves the malleable sand formations to complete the figures and provides a natural beach and spa area.

Image Courtesy © The Open Workshop, Masterplan of Arvene East

A second set of figures carve into the coast to create connections between these disconnected layers and allow the water into the site in a controlled manner. The coast instead of a static and separated line is reconceived as an accommodating landscape; activated by differing levels of water that incite various programs calibrated to daily and seasonal conditions. This new coastline offers a clear identity and marketability to the local communities as well a familiarity with and understanding of the changing water levels as revealed through the figures.

Image Courtesy © The Open Workshop, Detailed Plan of housing wetlands

Field

A manipulated topography forms a linear field of performative wetlands, retention ponds, flood mitigation systems, and streets. A three-step, phyto-remediation wetland utilizes a network of culverts connected to the figures to remediate the storm water run-off (from on and offsite), grey water (from the housing and retail programs), and oceanic water, which is filtered and cleansed before re-entering the ocean.

Image Courtesy © The Open Workshop, Systems section of flood protection and water remediation

This framework hosts a number of housing types  floating within the wetlands; elevated over the land and water divide; and grade-level, three-storey walk-up units. Not only is the house directly implicated in the coast’s performative processes, the typologies cater to a range of family types and socio-economic demographics.

Image Courtesy © The Open Workshop, Water Figures that emerge at differing water levels

A discontinuous band containing retail, parking, and housing programs acts as manifold interface between the figure and the field. As such a mediator, this frame allows the movement of water and people between the two zones, concentrates parking within its footprint, and becomes consolidated band of local and regional access to the waterfront. This organization promotes a pedestrian-based environment that cross-pollinates the public and private hierarchy on the site in a complex manner.

Image Courtesy © The Open Workshop, Concept Diagram of connection

Resilience

Resilience is the ability to adapt or transform to a given situation. Resilience is dependent on malleability, and, typically, attempts to deal with resilient design in a rigid, mega-infrastructural manner fail as long-term, versatile solutions. Instead, what is proposed is a series of tactical interventions that work holistically as a system to expand and contract to mitigate flooding and remediation. More importantly, water is positioned as an integral element of urbanism — culturally, programmatically, and performatively  that becomes part of the everyday experience of residents.

Image Courtesy © The Open Workshop, Floor plans of three housing types — Floating, Raised, and rooted

Image Courtesy © The Open Workshop, Axonometrics of Housing Types

Image Courtesy © The Open Workshop, Detail section of landscape construction and systems

Tags: NY, Rockaway

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